SoundBits: Tamara Walker’s Got the Prescription for Familial Bliss

Before reading her responses, here’s everything you need to know about Tamara Walker: (1) She’s the host of MomRN, (2) she makes her home in Edmond, Okla., (3) her recent guests have included Tom Arnold, Kirk Cameron and bestselling family author Dr. Kevin Leman, and (4) she’s got guts. Also strength – and a positive attitude about life that should be an inspiration to us all.

During a rare selfless moment, Tamara takes time out to pick out a new outfit.

Give us a 15-second pitch for your show – why should listeners tune in?

Got kids? From pregnancy to college, the Ask MomRN Show features prac- tical advice for raising a happy, healthy family. We offer a wide variety of family, parenting, health and safety information, served up with a big helping of support and encourage- ment. New baby changing your life? Toddler with a case of the “terrible twos”? Teenagers have you pulling your hair out? With the help of expert guests, I help my listeners navigate the toughest job on the planet – parenting!

Tell us two things listeners would be surprised to learn about you?

People are often surprised to learn that I’m only five feet tall. (Apparently I sound taller on the air.) Also that I’ve got a prosthetic leg. I have a wacky sense of humor and grew up playing practical jokes on unsus- pecting people (especially substitute teachers!) with my prosthesis.

Who’s your broadcasting hero?

That’s easy: Terri Fields, aka “Terri Indiana,” who hosted Lunchbreak on the late, great KOKF-FM in Oklahoma City. When Terri took over the reigns of that show, she mentioned that she wanted to find some parenting resources and information for the listeners. I happened to be in my car listening that day and felt compelled to email her and offer to be a “behind the scenes” resource, since I had a parenting-advice website, MomRN.com. Terri ended up giving me my own segment, once a month during Lunchbreak. Eventually I was on the air more often and I even got to do a little DJ’ing, which was great fun but harder than it looks. We were on the air together for two years and I credit her with getting me into broadcasting. Thanks, Terri!

If you could book any person on earth as a guest on your show, who would it be and why?

If my daughter had her way, I’d interview Dr. Phil, because she is a Dr. Phil-aholic. She watches his show every day and I’ve often heard her repeating some of his advice to her friends when they’re having problems. As for me, I’d love to interview Michael J. Fox about his positive outlook on life while living with Parkinson’s disease. My grandmother had Parkinson’s so I’ve seen firsthand what a deva- stating condition it can be. Yet Michael has remained a very optimistic, upbeat person despite his difficulties. So if anyone can hook me up and help me book Dr. Phil or Michael J. Fox, please contact me. I’d be very grateful.

As we speak, what are you wearing?

A red short-sleeve blouse, dark-blue striped slacks, and black flats.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done while in the middle of hosting your show?

Two things come to mind. During one show, we were having severe thunderstorms so I had my daughter turn on the TV with the sound muted so we could watch the radar and see if there was any tornado activity near us. (We live in Tornado Alley, after all.)

During another show, my landline phone rang, which was no big deal because I always silence all the ringers before going on the air. How- ever, on that particular day I must have forgotten to silence the an- swering machine because it clicked on and I could hear the greeting even through my headset. My guest was in the middle of talking, so I muted my mic, answered the phone and quickly told the caller I was on the air and would call them back after the show. I was able to get back on the air with my guest before they finished talking. I haven’t listened to the archive, but no one seems to have noticed – thankfully.